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Superannuation Calculator
Your super balance at retirement is the product of four things: what you have now, what goes in, what it earns, and what fees take. Three of those you control.
12% SG · $32,500 concessional cap modelled
At a glance
Interactive calculator
Live — results update as you type
Where you are now
Numbers are in today's dollars unless you turn inflation off.
What you add
Employer SG is 12% on earnings up to $270,830.
Balance at retirement
$0at age 65
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The four inputs that matter
Contributions beat returns
On the profile below, $10,000 a year of salary sacrifice adds $302,000 to the projection. A 1% higher return on the same balance adds a similar amount — but only one of the two is guaranteed.
The cap is a hard stop
Employer guarantee plus salary sacrifice is capped at $32,500 in 2026–27. Above that you pay your marginal rate plus a charge on the excess, which erases the benefit entirely.
Fees compound too
On the profile below, fees take $105,822 across the projection. It is the quietest and most reliable drag on a retirement outcome, and the easiest to fix by choosing a cheaper fund.
Age 42, $280,000, salary $135,000
On employer contributions alone, the balance reaches $1,146,429 by 65 in today’s dollars. Set salary sacrifice to $10,000 and it reaches $1,448,234 — $302,000 more, for $8,300 less take-home pay a year.
Across the 23 years you and your employer put in $575,000 and investment earnings add $593,234, with fees taking $105,822. The sacrifice saves $1,700 a year in income tax and Medicare, or $39,100 over the period, before any investment return is counted.
Superannuation questions
How much super should I have at my age?
As a rough benchmark, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia suggests a balance of about 3.5 times your salary at 40, 5 times at 50 and 7 times at 60 for a comfortable retirement. These are guides, not targets — the number that matters is the income you want to draw.
Is salary sacrifice still worth it?
For anyone earning above $45,000, yes. Contributions are taxed at 15% instead of your marginal rate of 30%, 37% or 45%. The saving is 15–30 cents per dollar contributed, inside the cap.
What is the concessional contributions cap?
$32,500 for 2026–27, up from $30,000. It includes employer SG and salary sacrifice. If your total super balance is under $500,000 you may be able to use unused cap from the previous five years.
How is super taxed in retirement?
Earnings in accumulation phase are taxed at 15%. Once you move to an account-based pension, earnings on the balance supporting your pension are tax-free, and withdrawals after age 60 are tax-free to you.
Should I consolidate multiple super accounts?
Almost always. Each account carries its own fees and often its own insurance premium, which is how people end up paying $2,000 a year across three funds for the same cover. Check for insurance you would lose before consolidating.
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Turn these numbers into a decision
A calculator gives you a range. An adviser gives you a decision — pressure-tested against your super, your tax position and the life you actually want to fund.
General advice only · No obligation · No product push
Projections assume a constant net return, constant salary growth of 3%, and contributions within the annual caps. They exclude insurance premiums, contribution timing effects and any future legislative change. Actual outcomes will differ. General information only.
Reviewed November 2026 · FY2026–27 rates and thresholds